Rotary engine



(No Model.)

W. G. OULBERTSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 396,143. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

IN V'EJVTOR IV] TA ESSJLS 1 I Ida/c2017. yeweZZ M U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM C. CIILBERTSON, OF GIRARD, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENG l N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,143, dated January 15, 1889.

' I Application filed March 1,1888. Serial No. 265,833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. CULBERT- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Girard, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following who a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to rotary motors or engines, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which shall possless simplicity of construction combined with efficient and easy action.

I provide a wheel or piston with inclined grooves in its opposite faces or ends and heads, on which the steam-chests are placed, and

which carry valves which work in the grooves,

and are operated thereby to control the admission of steam from the chests. In front of the valves a continuous exhaust is provided, which not only permits but compels the discharge of the exhaust-steam at each revolution of the piston. The grooves in the wheel are concentric; but their bottoms are inclined from lines flush with the faces of the wheel to a considerable depth, so that a gradually-decreasing area is assured as the piston revolves until the admission of steam is entirely cut off. The grooves in the opposite ends or faces of the wheel are disposed relatively to each other in such manner as to avoid dead-points.

The following detailed description will more fully explain the nature and construction of my invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my i11- vention into practice.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 2 is a section of the head, steam-chcst, and valve on line ac .r of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wheel; Fig. 4, a side elevation of one of the stationary heads, and Fig. 5 a perspective view'of one of the valves.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A A are the fixed or stationary heads, supported on any suitable base and affording volving with the shaft 13.

bearin for the shaft B, which passes through both of the said heads.-

0 C are the steam-chests provided upon the heads, having suitable steamways through them for the entrance of thelive steam and the escape of the exhaust. In the steam-chest work valves D 1), whose construction and functions will be explained further on.

E is the piston or wheel attached to and re- This wheel or piston is a plane circular block having annular inclined grooves e 6 formed in its opposite faces or ends. These grooves are concentric with the wheel; but their bottoms are inclined from a line flush with the face of the piston to a considerable depth at a point in the circu inference close to the beginning. The slidevalves drop into these grooves at the deep ends, and the steam comes in contact with the deep ends or abutments e of the grooves, and,

being confined by the slide-valves D, which ride upon the bottom of the grooves, it forces the piston around. The abutments e e of the grooves e e are placed diametrically opposite, so as to overcome the dead-points.

The valves D are constructed with a baseflange, d, upon the face of each valve, which flange not only serves the purpose of affording a hold for the stean1,wl1ich thereby keeps the valve pressed down into the groove, but also insures a space for the steam to enterbetween the abutment and the valve when the valve drops over the ledge of the abutment. The ports through the heads A A are of proper form for the bases of the valves to completely close when forced up by the termination of the grooves at the shallow end. The induction or live-steam port g extends through the head A in front of each valve D, as shown in Figs. 2 and i of the drawings. Suitable packing is placed between the ends of the piston and the heads to insure a steam-tight joint.

It is apparent that the construction of parts herein shown could be used for pumping purposes by suitable change of supply and discharge passages.

It will be perceived that as thus constructed, with the inclined grooves at opposite sides of the wheel or piston, an extremely simple and compact engine is produced, which virtually consists of but three partsthe heads,

[o elaiimand desire to seenreliylietters Patent,

l. In a deviee ot the kind deseril ted, a wheel or piston having inelined valve-operating" grooves in its (n posite faees.

:3. The eomhination ot? a wheel or piston having inelined grmives in its opposite faces with heads having sliding valves working in said grooves, as set forth.

3. The combination, with a wheelv or piston having inclined grooves in its opposite faces, of heads having Valves adapted to work in said grooves and provided with base-flanges on one side thereof, as set forth.

"L. The eomhination, with a piston or wheel having inelined grooves in its opposite faces, heads having steam-chests, and sliding Valves working in the grooves, of the wheel and exhaust-ports throi'igl'i heads haek of the "alves, substantially as set; forth. I

In testimony whereof I atlix my si gnatn re in presenee of two witnesses.

' W. (I. UULBERTSON.

'itnesses:

1*. L. inow NI), 'LAMECH DUVALL. 

